Development Programme

The FIS Aid & Promotion Programme for Developing Ski Nations was established following the decision by the 1996 FIS Congress in Christchurch (NZE) that the election of FIS World Championships Organisers would be delegated to the FIS Council and that each Candidate would pay a registration fee that would be used for the development of skiing. The Aid & Promotion programme then got under way in 1997/98, funded by the World Championship Candidates fees.

More than 15 years later, at its Meetings during the FIS Congress 2012 in Kangwonland (KOR), the Council decided to connect the Aid & Promotion Programme with FIS Solidarity Support so that there is a better coordination between these two areas and to avoid the overlapping of activities. A Council working group was appointed to undertake this project, and the programme encompassing both of these components has been re-named the FIS Development Programme (FDP). The valuable work of the Aid & Promotion working group over many years, and in particular the work of Paul Michaelidis, Joseph Meiner and Sung-Won Lee who have been involved with the programme since its outset in 1999, has been recognised and the Council’s working group will continue to draw on their experience moving forward.

The scope of the programme is designed to improve developing ski nations’ own knowledge and competences, and two experts from the FIS Development Programme member National Ski Associations; Paul Michaelidis and Dan Mihoc were appointed by the Council to serve as advisors in the working group. Professional support for the organisation of the activities is handled through the FIS Office and by the appointed experts arranging the training camps and other activities.

FIS Development Programme Activities 2015

FDP Leaders’ Seminar 2015 - organised by the FIS Office and Josef Zenhäusern will be hosted in Vilnius (LTU) in the autumn (date to be confirmed)

FDP Youth & Children’s Seminar2015 - will take place during the FIS Autumn Meetings in Zürich (SUI)